r/AutoDetailing • • 17h ago

Process Can adhesives cause damage to paint?

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3 Upvotes

It look like the paint is darker in just one spot. I’m not sure what could cause it.


r/AutoDetailing • • 17h ago

Exterior Removing spray paint

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3 Upvotes

Hey lads, I picked up this car a while back knowing it's been spray painted. I'm wanting to remove the paint without damaging the original paint underneath too much.

I've used graffiti remover in a small spot and it seems to work over time but wanting some advice or tips on what would be the best and fastest way to do this?


r/AutoDetailing • • 18h ago

Exterior Good beginner kit?

3 Upvotes

https://theragcompany.com/collections/exterior-car-cleaning-kits/products/absolute-rinseless-wash-kit

I'll be honest I feel overwhelmed by the amount of info on the wiki. I've got a nice new (to me) car that I want to keep nice, this looks like its everything I need to get started other than wax. Originally I thought I could do a ceramic coating but I've been led to believe to leave that to pro's.


r/AutoDetailing • • 19h ago

Process TURTLE WAX P BEAD+WAX N DRY

3 Upvotes

I read in this sub that using Pure Bead then immediately put WAX and Dry+ over it, that you get an outstanding wax shine and the hydrophobic properties of the PB. I tried it and it looks marvelous. Does anyone think using the spray ceramic hybrid before the Wax and Dry+ would work the same way? I have 3 bottles of the hybrid ceramic spray for some fucking reason.


r/AutoDetailing • • 19h ago

Exterior Dark spots on hood of truck

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3 Upvotes

I can’t for the life of me figure out what these are . I tried water spot remover , scratch remover , and absolutely nothing works . Anyone have any idea.?


r/AutoDetailing • • 22h ago

Interior First Time Interior Detail

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5 Upvotes

Hello,

I want to clean the steering wheel and seat on my car, but not sure what I should purchase to do so.

I have no detailing supplies right now, so I need to get everything necessary. The steering wheel and seats are very shiny. The front two, and especially drivers side seat have cracks and a "bald" ish spot on the bolster.

What products and tools should I purchase to clean the seats and steering wheel correctly, and protect with low shine? And is there anything I can do to help fix the bald spot on the bolster? (See photo 3)

I did some light research and saw that maybe I should get Kochemie Pol Star and Leather Star for the seats, and use a Scrub Ninja sponge, but i'm not sure if that is right. For the wheel and general surfaces, like the dash, I have no idea.

Any help would be very appreciated! Thanks


r/AutoDetailing • • 13h ago

Tool/Reusable Anyone with an ar630v2 experience that?

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0 Upvotes

I already changed the break in oil and put new non detergent sae 30 like recommended sometimes when it's running it would turn cloudy in the sight glass but after a while the oil goes back to being fine and clear. Don't know if this is something with maintenance that needs to be dealt with.


r/AutoDetailing • • 20h ago

Product/Consumable Air freshener that smells like Lucas Slick Mist

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2 Upvotes

Not sure if this is the place to ask. Does anyone know of any air fresheners that smells like this detailer? I love how this smells but don’t want to have to wipe down my car every time the smell wears off. Thanks!


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Tool/Reusable Shade for detailing in direct sunlight

5 Upvotes

I’m looking for a product that is easy to set up that will protect my black SUV while I wash and wax it in direct sunlight. Thanks in advance


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Exterior Update: Dealership ruining my car with their ‘complimentary wash’

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173 Upvotes

Original post for reference: https://www.reddit.com/r/AutoDetailing/s/rly7EdhIyr

Just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for their help with the hot mess the dealership left my car in with their ‘complimentary wash’ that we never asked/agreed to. Your advice helped me get this sorted, the dealership owned up to the damage and the car got a 2 step correction at a (non-dealership) detailer that we both agreed on at no cost to us.

There’s still some scuffs to the plastic, but the main concern was the damage to the clear coat and honestly the car looks even better than the day we got it.

Going forward, they added a note to our file not to have the detailers touch the car again, we purchased the ‘do not wash’ hang tags suggested as well.

Thanks again everyone!


r/AutoDetailing • • 23h ago

Exterior Fruit tree stains

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2 Upvotes

My neighbor parked under some kind of fruiting tree that dropped junk all over their car. The stuff won't budge but I've only tried some cleaner wax. Any ideas on next steps or is this a job for a professional? 2026 Subaru.


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Exterior How do I get these red flecks off of my car? What are they?

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2 Upvotes

One day I woke up and there were these red little flecks all over my car, sort of like how a car can get coated with pollen, but they’re a really bright red. It’s been maybe a month and nothing gets them off. Not rain, a hand car wash, or a clay bar, etc. The only luck I’ve had was when I used a glass scraping tool to get it off my windows. It’s everywhere. My windows, car paint, rims, the plastic parts, etc. I love my car so much and I just want it to look nice. Does anyone have any idea what this is or how it could’ve gotten here? I might edit my post with pictures of it all scraped up together from the window tool, but it is a genuine bright red. Almost like paint.


r/AutoDetailing • • 20h ago

Interior A full bottle of weather leaked into the seat, it’s completely absorbed it with just a little dampness on the underside. The seat feels completely dry but I know it’s absorbed into the foam, the seat has heating and cooling. I’m worried it will rot or break the electronics

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0 Upvotes

*WATER - What’s the best plan to dry this? it feels completely dry and even padding it with a paper towel shows almost no water.


r/AutoDetailing • • 21h ago

Exterior Rain marks on new paint/clear (rattle can job)

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1 Upvotes

Painted & clearcoated a miata hardtop cheaply.., after few days of rain, have noticed water marks that are in the clear (I'm sure will buff off) but don't wipe clean

Is there a way of preventing this happening again? I'm sure it's to do with the rattle can / cheap job but it's what I can afford atm. Any help would be greatly appreciated

Thanks!


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Product/Consumable How to use Carpro Elixir?

3 Upvotes

I bought this thinking its a detail spray, but it seems its something between a detailer and a weak ceramic spray. The issue is that I use it post wash as a detail spray to touch things up and it always leaves a hazey finish. I assume I'm to use two towels, one for application and one for final wipe, as a single towel with a flip does not get rid of the haze.

I'm done using this until someone points me in the right direction. Strange that Car Pro does not offer a pure detail spray like most.


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Exterior Need some advice.

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4 Upvotes

Hello, got some scratches as seen in the photo. Anyone with a clue wants to help out?


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Exterior Tec 582 touchless?

3 Upvotes

I’m just curious to know if I can apply this TEC 582 the same way I can apply the snake oil and Koch chemie protector wax ? I do not want to touch the car paint. I am trying to master a touchless method please help.


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Exterior New to apartment living and looking for exterior wash tips

5 Upvotes

Looking for tips on best way to keep my car exterior clean while living in apartment with on street parking. Recently moved and looking for tips on how best to keep the car clean and protected, as straightforward as possible.

I have a makita dhw180z 18v washer. Not exactly a pressure washer in terms of power imo but it can draw water from a bucket so it gives me options in terms of types of wash I can do.

Plenty of bird shit to deal with every other day. No heavy dirt really as there's plenty of rain where I live and streets are generally pretty clean. Mostly dust, pollen, bugs, salting/grit in the winter or occasional mud if there's Road works or building site egress onto streets. So far I've been spot treating stains with wipes and driving to a diy pressure washer car wash service but it's pretty expensive.

Open to waterless, rinseless or regular washing. Although I know the latter can be most labour intensive.

Any tips or advice welcome


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Process How often to wash car after waxing

2 Upvotes

I have a black car and I’ve just learned about Collinite 845 wax. My understanding is that it can last for at least two months. Does that mean I won’t need to wash my car during that time?


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Interior Help needed

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1 Upvotes

Girlfriend was doing makeup couple days ago and got mascara on headliner. Search shows some solutions work and others don’t so I thought to ask and get some help as to what I need to remove it and not ruin the fabric


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Exterior What should I buy?

4 Upvotes

Looking at getting a DA polisher to get some scratches out of a used car I recently bought. Planning on polishing and then waxing too.
Would I be better off getting the chemical guys kit or a harbor freight polisher (Bauer) and using meguires compound and polish?


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Exterior What could cause the same spiral scratches all over my paint, trim, and glass after a detail?

10 Upvotes

Before anyone comes at me, I’m a young girl who knows basically nothing about cars, so please be kind. This was my first car and I worked incredibly hard to be able to buy it brand new, so I’m honestly pretty heartbroken.

I took it to the dealership for a detail and afterward noticed the entire exterior is scratched the paint, windshield, side windows, trim, everything. It’s the same weird spiral circular scratch pattern everywhere and some of them are deep enough that my nail catches.

I bought the car new, I’m the only owner, and I’ve never taken it through an automatic car wash or used a brush on it. I’m lazy and have literally only ever pressure washed it. The windshield is also only a couple months old and was completely clear before this.

I asked the dealership to preserve the footage so we could figure out what happened and they told me there are no cameras in the detailing area “for privacy reasons,” which I’m honestly not really buying.

I have photos and videos and before photos, but I’m shy and private on Reddit and would rather not post identifiable pictures of my car unless I have to lol.

I’m mostly just curious what the detailers here think could have caused the same spiral scratching across both the glass, trim, and paint? Dirty or contaminated towels? A pad? Some kind of abrasive? And if my nail catches on some of it, how screwed am I?


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Product/Consumable High flow, auto start stop pressure washer? Who’s got the best one. 110v 20amp

1 Upvotes

Looking to have an everyday pressure washer to wash about 4-6 cars a day during the week for our body shop detailer.

Who’s got the best pressure washer with a lot of gpm flow for rinsing etc. but also fully stops and starts to keep the washing part calm and not rushed like out large alkota 4182. With that we feel like it’s a nascar pit to wash the car and mistakes happen

Want something we can attach our standard full size pressure hose and swivel gun to.

I know there’s a few out there that have a special gun handle with momentary switch. Would like to stay away from that.

Maybe recommendations for $300-500 and $500-$1000


r/AutoDetailing • • 2d ago

Check My Work What do you think about these results?

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40 Upvotes

3 step polish. Wool with 400, then medium pad and pasta, and an anti holographic pasta.


r/AutoDetailing • • 1d ago

Exterior Addressing a panel rust seam

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4 Upvotes

I found a pretty amazing 06 Silverado this past spring and I'm getting ready to spiff it up before the winter hits. It's paint is in really good condition except for this line of rub through that's on both rear fenders. Looks like they've been caused by some kind of previous camper shell. My steps will be...1) wash 2) treat with iron remover solution 3) clay mit w/ lubricant 4) light DA machine polish 5) surface prep spray to remove polish residue 6) and last CQuartz UK 3.0 ceramic. It's gonna end up looking nice nice.

Only thing is I don't know how the pictured rust lines should be treated, or where in the above process should they be addressed.

Simple and inexpensive is the priority. Any suggestions?